Gurpreet Kang, 26, of Hamilton, was arrested in Michigan earlier this month in connection with a reported sexual assault in Oxford last spring.

News 5's Karin Johnson talked with neighbors Wednesday who said Kang lived across the street from Markham at one time. The apartment building owner said Kang's family rented the apartment, but Kang's name was not on the lease. New tenants moved in in June 2011, the owner said.

The owner of a gas station on East River Road that was visible from Markham's home told Johnson Thursday that Kang worked at the station for about five years before leaving last summer. The owner would not confirm reports that Kang's family owns the station, but was later identified as Kang's uncle.

Late Thursday morning, Fairfield police issued a statement that read in part, "The Fairfield Police Department is already aware that Kang reportedly worked at a convenience store near Katelyn Markham’s residence and that Kang reportedly lived in the same neighborhood as Katelyn Markham. This information has already been integrated into our ongoing investigation."

"As it is an ongoing investigation, the Fairfield Police Department will reserve any further comments on this information," the release concluded.

Kang appeared Thursday afternoon in a Butler County court on the rape charge, and that case was bound over to a grand jury.

News 5 asked him as he arrived whether he was connected to Markham's disappearance, and he said, "No, ma'am."

Kang's attorney told News 5 that his client was not fleeing the country but was on his way to a sporting event, and he said he'd been unaware that Kang was under investigation in the Markham case.

Kang's family also told News 5 that he had no connection with the missing person case.